Over the last few weeks, Jeff has been working on TH, V, and F sounds with Jack to help Jack stop talking with a lisp, or as some would say, his baby talk. As Jeff worked with Jack, he would seem to say something correctly and then just end up repeating the same errors again. Each session was almost like starting over. He had spotty success at best.
I also noticed a difference in Jack's demeanor during his sessions recently. He is becoming easily distracted and isn't always doing as Jeff asks. Jack had always been excited to see Jeff in the past but this was slowly fading. I was beginning to wonder if he was tired of his sessions or just becoming a little punk - as we say when one of the kids is getting feisty.
Then one day, I watched Jeff do an amazing thing. He talked to Jack just as he normally would, but he switched his TH sounds with V and F sounds... and V and F sounds with TH sounds.
First, it was amazing because he just did it. He just talked, like normal, but substituted sounds within words. As if he had practiced for weeks. At least I know I would have to practice for weeks to so such a thing. Second, it was amazing because Jack just talked to him back... as if you and I were talking... as if everything was normal... as if Jeff was talking correctly.
I was speechless. I could feel my jaw drop.
This was the first time I truly got an idea of what it must be like to be Jack. Why he gets so tired listening during a full day of school. Many words must sound the same him. As someone speaks, he is constantly translating and trying to make sense of it all based on the context of the discussion.
I was taken back because I couldn't imagine how Jack was going to learn to pronounce the sounds correctly if he can't distinguish them apart? Jeff confirmed this by telling me if Jack can't hear the difference between the sounds, we can't expect him to learn how to correctly say sounds by listening to them. I was trying not to panic. Thinking logically, it made sense to me, but how the f--- was he going to learn then?! I supposed a level of panic set in anyway.
He continued to say that he'll teach Jack the mechanics of the sounds and then show him what written words use what mechanics... and maybe he'll eventually put it together. I was always told that hope was not a strategy, but I got the clear indication that hope was the only strategy we had at this point. So I told Jeff, Great, let's begin. What else was I going to say? This is crazy - we give up.
During the next session, Jeff began by having Jack watch his mouth as he said sounds and words. Then he gave Jack a mirror to watch his own mouth as he said sounds and words. Jeff would also point out what his tongue, teach and cheeks should be doing during the sound. He'd place Jack's hands in front of his mouth so he could feel how the air should flow as he spoke. Then Jack would try himself.
With every mistake, Jack became less engaged... more distracted. Jeff was thinking we may want to play loud white noise to try to eliminate Jack's ability to hear the sound completely. Something about he may be trying to hear the difference, instead of feel it. It sounded intriguing, but I had a bigger problem. After two sessions of this new approach, Jack refused to go back. He said it was just too hard.
So I did what any respectful mother would do, I bribed him. If he would go to two more sessions, he could sleep over at his best friend's house. Now I wasn't completely on the up and up, because he was already scheduled to go to to Owen's sleep-over birthday party in two weeks - but it worked, so I used it.
As I began to watch his next session, I began to think how I was going to keep him trying... what bribe would I use next?
Then I heard Jeff say, Yes, that's it! and he gave Jack a high-five. Jack did it again... TH. And again... TH. And again.. TH! He got it. I wanted to get up and dance. Okay, I confess. I stood up and did a little butt shake.
While hearing him correctly pronounce TH was exhilarating, what really touched my heart was Jack couldn't get enough of it. He knew he got it right and he began to say TH words one right after another. He didn't want to stop.
The proud look on his face said it all.
Another victory.
I later learned while talking with a friend at work that has been an educator of some kind her whole life that it wasn't a strategy of hope as I originally thought. This is the method used to teach deaf people how to speak.
Imagine that.
